Oldstyle 'witnessing'

Austin_Allegro · 31 March 2005 at 9:35AM

I wonder what reaction people get when they talk 'old style' to friends, colleagues etc? Here's a couple of reactions I've had:

Recently I was chatting to a friend's girlfriend. She's a civil engineer and we got onto the subject of drainage and unblocking drains etc (as you do). Turns out she uses vinegar and bicarb for absolutely everything, and couldn't believe she'd found another 'believer'! Then when a friend asked 'where do you buy all this vinegar' we both said at the same time 'Chinese supermarkets!'

Then I was speaking to my sister about Jamie Oliver's school dinners. She refused to believe he could make a healthy school meal for 50p. I said I could make a balanced meal for 35p, and she looked at me in utter incomprehension!

Have any other readers had any amusing 'witnessing' experiences?

monkeylugs · 31 March 2005 at 9:45AM

Not really old style, but I have the mothers at my son's karate class in hysterics when I tell them about my tales of writing smarmy, creepy letters to manufacturers in returns for vouchers.

They'd be laughing on the other sides of their faces if they found themselves not needing to pay for bread or frozen stuff or washing powder for several weeks because of it!

mink35 · 31 March 2005 at 9:49AM

One of my friends just says 'oh, that site again'.

She was well p***ed off at Christmas tho when I got most of my pressies v. cheap because of the shop/drop or grabbit threads. And every time I mention a 'cheat' on how to do things she just raises her eyebrows... then tells me several days later that she tried it and it worked, lol! Can't win.

tiff · 31 March 2005 at 9:55AM

My family just think I'm a cheapskate and dont understand why I try to "cut corners" as they say. My Mum looks down upon the cheap cuts of meat that I buy, and my sister wouldnt be seen dead in charity shop clothes. My Mum does use coupons but wont use them unless she is buying the product as she feels it is wrong, and my sister cant be bothered to use coupons.

I spend a fraction of what they do, we eat very well and very healthily. I LOVE living like this!

mink35 · 31 March 2005 at 9:59AM

But Tiff - when you've got enough money to do something you really want without thinking about it, you can just tell them it's all down to cheaper meat cuts!

tiff · 31 March 2005 at 10:12AM

Exactly Mink

The difference between then and now for me is that before I would struggle to buy everything we needed, food, clothes, shoes, holidays, etc - Now I pick up everything I need (need not want) and know I can buy it, its extremely satisfying to know I havent used a credit card in months, probably 4 months maybe more. I look at my kids and think they have everything they need and feel good about myself. We have several camping breaks booked, a week long camping hol in the school holidays (never usually go on hol then because its expensive but camping is cheap

) I feel like I am defending myself, but I know I dont have to to you lot!

Sorry Austin, no amusing tales - just wish I could get someone I know to take a look at MSE, that would hook them in!

Lillibet_2 · 31 March 2005 at 10:13AM

I have a friend who was supposedly very keen to adopt some of my money saving ways. She invited me over to dinner to discuss things, she still hasn't got aroud to price checking her insurance providers, was horrified at the idea of buying reduced price grocery items & proceeded to throw the very good high quality leftovers into the kitchen bin in front of my eyes. She has since taken out a loan to pay for her wedding as costs have spiraled out of control : I'm hardly suprised.

halloweenqueen_2 · 31 March 2005 at 10:15AM

My family now encourage me after I saved up for a great family holiday in America, before I was a cheapskate and oh no Mums buying the reduced stuff again, which indidently was always eaten, now they can see what they get for it!

tru · 31 March 2005 at 10:15AM

Last week I converted someone to the wonders of vinegar and soda crystals

Galtizz · 31 March 2005 at 10:18AM

OH teases me all the time about vinegar and friends have started to do it too. Everytime something wants doing he says 'I bet you could do it with vinegar' then laughs his socks off :rolleyes: (he doesn't know that even they are washed in vinegar to stop them smelling

).

My Mum and my Aunt call me internet Aggie but they are always phoning me up and saying - go on then, how do I get this stain out of this or how do I unblock my drain etc... and they both have a small stockpile of vinegar and bicarb, just goes to show that you can teach an old dog new tricks

tru · 31 March 2005 at 10:26AM

I get teased all the time, mostly by hubby. We were in Asda and there were a pile of their free mags, he actually shouted out "Oi, CHEAPASS, here's a freebie for ya" lol.
He calls Martin The Great Cheapass

Mind you, he doesn't laugh at me quite so much now when he sees how much is still in the bank at the end of the month

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Oldstyle 'witnessing'

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